Biology and Pathology of Turfgrass Anthracnose
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research Biology and pathology of turfgrass anthracnose Anthracnose is a serious disease of cool-season turf on golf courses, but new genetic tools and cultivar development may limit the disease. Editor’s note: In the late 1990s and early 2000s, anthracnose disease and annual bluegrass weevils caused dramatic losses of annual bluegrass on putting greens in the northeastern United States. In response, in 2005, scientists from several universities formed the NE-1025 group to conduct research to solve problems related to these pests. As a result of the research, an initial set of best management practices was developed for anthracnose and annual bluegrass weevil control and published in GCM in August 2008. The research project was completed in 2011, and the researchers are now publishing additional information on best management practices for anthracnose control in the May and June issues of GCM. The first two articles in the series make up this month’s research section. In the mid-1990s, anthracnose basal rot disease and cereal grain crops worldwide (3). Although emerged as one of the key management issues fac- numerous cool- and warm-season turfgrass hosts ing superintendents who maintain annual blue- are susceptible to anthracnose, the disease is most grass (Poa annua) putting greens. In this article, we damaging on annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and provide an updated overview of the biology, host creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) maintained range, symptomology and epidemiological factors at putting green height. For reasons not fully under- influencing the pathology of anthracnose basal rot. stood, annual bluegrass is particularly susceptible to anthracnose, with stands of the grass severely dam- Host susceptibility aged when conditions are optimal for disease devel- Anthracnose is a common disease on grasses opment. Because anthracnose attacks weakened or This research was funded in part by grants from the Environmental Institute for Golf and the USGA. Jo Anne Crouch, Ph.D. Bruce B. Clarke, Ph.D. Anthracnose on the annual bluegrass putting green at Ridgewood CC, Paramus, N.J. Photo courtesy of P. Majumdar 96 GCM May 2012 research senescent turf, annual bluegrass is especially vul- Colletotrichum cereale has been documented nerable when maintained under conditions of low in the United States for more than a century (7). mowing, low fertility or drought stress. The risk The fungus was first described in 1908 from Ohio, of anthracnose infection to annual bluegrass turf where C. cereale was observed infecting several is further intensified during hot, humid weather. cool-season grasses, including Kentucky bluegrass, Anthracnose disease may also develop on other redtop (Agrostis gigantea), orchardgrass (Dactylis cool-season turfgrass species such as fine fescues glomerata), and grain crops such as wheat (Triticum (Festuca species), Kentucky bluegrass (P. pratensis), aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale) (3). Anthracnose ryegrasses (Lolium species) and velvet bentgrass (A. of annual bluegrass was first diagnosed in 1928 canina), but is uncommon and rarely destructive from New Jersey, where C. cereale was observed on these grasses (7). Anthracnose also occurs on infecting roots and basal leaves (16). warm-season turfgrasses such as centipedegrass Colletotrichum cereale inhabits many environ- (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bermudagrass (Cyn- ments outside of golf courses, including orna- odon dactylon) (6,15). mental grasses, residential lawns, meadows, for- age grasses, prairies and natural grasslands (7). Anthracnose of cool-season turf Sporadic anthracnose disease outbreaks caused by The pathogen causing anthracnose disease in C. cereale occurred in wheat, cereal rye and oats cool-season grasses, the fungus Colletotrichum cere- (Avena sativa) during the first part of the 20th ale, inhabits temperate climate zones across the century, often in association with low fertility (3). United States, Canada, Western Europe, South Today, with the exception golf course turfgrass, C. America, Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Aus- cereale rarely triggers disease; however, the fungus tralia (3). Colletotrichum cereale, previously called is able to colonize other hosts without visibly affect- C. graminicola, closely resembles other Colletotri- ing plant health (7). chum fungi that cause anthracnose disease in corn, Even though C. cereale infects a wide range of sorghum, switchgrass, sugarcane and other mem- cool-season grasses, DNA fingerprint analysis of bers of the grass family. However, while C. cereale the fungus collected from cool-season grasses in and other grass anthracnose pathogens are related the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and to each other, DNA fingerprint analysis shows they Europe has shown that individuals from different are unique organisms, each infecting entirely dif- host plants are members of 11 distinct population ferent hosts (4). groups (7). These populations are predominantly Anthracnose symptoms on annual bluegrass putting green turf. Photo courtesy of B. Clarke May 2012 GCM 97 research divided according to host association. Only one of the 11 C. cereale populations includes individuals from both turfgrass and non-turfgrass hosts (for example, agronomic crop plants, native grasses, etc.). Most turfgrass strains of this pathogen pos- sess unique DNA fingerprints that separate them from C. cereale collected from other host plants. Additionally, DNA fingerprints from individuals of C. cereale infecting annual bluegrass are dissimilar from fingerprints of the fungus infecting creeping bentgrass. Anthracnose of warm-season turfgrasses Anthracnose in warm-season turfgrass is less common and less destructive than the disease that affects annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass. Consequently, anthracnose has been poorly studied in warm-season turfgrasses. Recent DNA research has shown that anthracnose of warm-season turf- grasses is not caused by the same species of Colletot- richum that is responsible for disease in cool-season Top: Anthracnose on centipedegrass turfgrass. Photo courtesy of M. Tomaso-Peterson Bottom: Colletotrichum cereale acervuli with setae on leaf sheath of annual bluegrass. Photo courtesy of L. Stowell 98 GCM May 2012 research turfgrass (C. cereale), although these fungi do share foliar infection between 81 F and 91 F (27.2 C and similarities in their appearance (5). Given the many 32.8 C) (8). anatomical, structural, metabolic and biochemical Colletotrichum cereale conidia are transported differences between cool-season and warm-season by wind and water, or mechanically through foot grasses, this finding is not surprising. The dissimi- trafffic, mowers or other equipment. Upon contact larity between the different anthracnose pathogens with a susceptible turfgrass plant, the conidia ger- may reflect adaptations to the unique hosts that minate within approximately two to six hours, and they infect. a structure called a germ tube is produced. Forma- Anthracnose of centipedegrass is caused by tion of the germ tube leads to the development of C. eremochloae, a newly discovered fungus that is a suction cup-like object called an appressorium, a a closely related sibling of the fungus responsible dark-brown, dome-shaped structure measuring for sorghum anthracnose, C. sublineola (6). Recent less than 0.01 inch (0.25 millimeter) in diameter. DNA fingerprinting of anthracnose fungi from Appressoria (plural of appressorium) adhere firmly preserved centipedegrass samples intercepted by to the host, allowing the fungus to penetrate the United States port authorities in 1923 indicates outer plant cuticle into the underlying tissue via a that C. eremochloae was likely introduced along penetration peg that forces its way into the plant with the host when it was first imported from using tremendous pressure. China during the early 20th century (6). Anthrac- Although this pressure has never been calcu- nose on zoysiagrass (Zoysia species) and bahiagrass lated for C. cereale, optical wave measurements (Paspalum notatum) is associated with C. caudatum have shown that a single appressorium from the and C. paspali in Japan, but it is unknown whether related corn pathogen C. graminicola is able to these fungi are present on these turfgrass hosts in exert forces up to 25 μN on host tissue (1). To put North America (3). The anthracnose pathogen of this in perspective, if a force of 17 μN were exerted bermudagrass is a species of Colletotrichum that has across the palm of a human hand, that individual not yet been identified. would be able to lift a school bus weighing almost 17,000 pounds (7.7 metric tons). The formation Symptomology, diagnosis and the of appressoria has been observed within six hours disease cycle after conidia make contact with leaves or stems, Host infection by the anthracnose fungus and penetration of host tissue may occur within Knowledge of anthracnose biology in turfgrass 24 hours (12). High humidity and/or extended is still incomplete. Nonetheless, several stages of periods of leaf wetness are critical during this time, the life cycle of Colletotrichum cereale are known, since desiccation of germinating condia will greatly and research from related Colletotrichum grass reduce the potential for infection. pathogens provides insight into how the infection process presumably works in annual bluegrass and bentgrass. Although anthracnose outbreaks sometimes occur on infected turfgrass in winter, the fungus is believed to be largely inactive during cold weather. Colletotrichum cereale is